Burt & Ernie were little kittens that were dumped outside of a store in 2004 – each very ill with a toxic plastic flea collar around their neck and clinging to life. Animal Rescue League (ARL) took them in, cared for them, and loved them. When they were about 5 months old these two brothers were adopted together.

ARL was recently notified, by mail that both cats were taken to the Sacramento SPCA earlier this month and owner-surrendered to be euthanized. We have no explanation as to why the family made this choice nor did the family comply with our contract which states that “the animal(s) may be returned to Animal Rescue League at any time for any reason. The animal(s) may not be taken to a shelter”.

The cats were scanned at the Sacramento SPCA showing Animal Rescue League to be a contact agency but we did not receive a call advising us that Burt & Ernie was dropped off. Instead letters were received 6 days AFTER Burt and Ernie were euthanized advising us of the situation. We are heartbroken that we did not have a chance to possibly save these beautiful brothers.

After speaking with the Sacramento SPCA we were told that Burt and Ernie were euthanized because of their age… 11 years old for a cat is NOT OLD!… Cats can live much longer!!!

A lot of organizations, like the Sacramento SPCA, have criteria regarding the euthanization of older animals because they believe they are too old to be put up for adoption and no one would want them. In fact, ARL has adopted many older animals to good homes. Animals, like people, have value. We don’t discard them just because they’re old.

While ARL cannot dictate to other groups what their euthanization or adoption policies should be we do think some effort should have been made by the Sacramento SPCA to call us and give us the opportunity to save Burt and Ernie.

And folks, WE ARE VERY ANGRY! Euthanizing an animal just due to age is not acceptable to us. We do not understand why these animals were euthanized and why ARL was not contacted until after the fact. The Sacramento SPCA did scan the animals and had an alternative to euthanize and did not use it. These animals could have been SAVED if we were contacted.

In the end, what are we asking here? Why would Sacramento SPCA do this especially since there was an alternative to save the animals? Have other rescues or individuals had this happen to them?

Please comment and let us know what you think because we think this is very wrong.

Please join us on Tuesday, May 5th, as we participate in the BIG Day of Giving where, over a 24 hour period from midnight to midnight, Animal Rescue League (ARL) will be one of more than 500 local nonprofits attempting to raise $5 million, engage 25,000 donors, and make this region #1 as the most generous community in the country on this national day of giving.

Animal Rescue League works daily to rescue, rehabilitate and find loving homes for stray, abandoned and abused animals in our community. We are also a sanctuary for those who are never adopted as our organization is a true NO-KILL. We plan to continue this work and to expand our services in the future – Please help us to meet our goal of helping more animals and assist in the opening of a new sanctuary/adoption center in 2015 by giving generously at https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/animal-rescue-league.

Please check below for some exciting ways you can participate and be a part of this $5 million giving community.

How you can help on May 5th:

Use your credit or debit card to make your donation.In addition, Golden1 Credit Union has joined the BIG Day of Giving event and will donate up to $50,000 total to the nonprofits that their members donate to on May 5th. For more info visit https://www.golden1.com/Giving/default

Join us at the Project R.I.D.E. Arena for an Open House and Party!Over a dozen Elk Grove nonprofits will be participating to celebrate the BIG Day of Giving. This FREE event will feature a proclamation presentation by the City of Elk Grove Mayor and City Council. Online donations through bigdayofgiving.org will be accepted at the event. Computers and assistance will be available throughout the evening. Come join us for an exciting evening!

As 2014 begins Animal Rescue League has to take a look back at what we’ve accomplished in years past and collect our thoughts on what can be done this year and moving forward. We worked hard to become a 501(c)3 no kill non-profit organization and continue to work hard to maintain that status.

The kittens shown above are sisters born March 31, 2013. To learn more about these two cuties and others available for adoption – CLICK HERE

As an all volunteer organization we’ve adopted out hundreds of animals, all while cleaning (scooping) 40+ litter boxes per day – twice! And yes, the majority of animals in our care are cats – that’s because they’ve been the most in need in the community.

We’ve had our animals on television, we’ve been on the radio discussing our plight to keep our shelter doors open, we’ve worked concession stands at the King’s NBA basketball games and also at the Sacramento River Cats baseball games to raise funds for animal care. We’ve worked a KISS concert and a Sugarland concert (KISS fans gave big tips!).

We’ve developed good relationships with the veterinary community and have stuck to our motto “it’s about the animal” in all that we do. We’ve had a number of news articles written about us and have been included in pet related publications.

We have gone into schools to do pet education and learned that teenagers become giggly and giddy around kittens just like first graders do – everyone’s the same when there’s a kitten on your desk.

We’ve solicited prizes for fundraising events, asked for sponsorships, spoke at events, asked for help from…. everyone! All of these things have been to provide funding to care for the animals. Everything is for the animals. After all “it’s about the animal”.

We don’t compromise; we stick to our criteria for providing the animals with quality care and to our adoption process. We don’t have “sales” to get them adopted. We have to be their voice when no one else will and it is a responsibility we take seriously.

We become their sanctuary when they are not adopted – for however long they need and through whatever happens (diabetes, kidney disease, etc.). We try to provide the care they would receive as a beloved family pet and if it is their time to go while in our care we are there for them in their last hour. We cry for each animal that is lost, but we know that they were loved at the end because WE loved them.

As the bus slowed down at the crowded bus stop, the bus conductor leaned from the platform and called out, “Six only!” The bus stopped. He counted on six passengers, rang the bell, and then, as the bus moved off, called to those left behind: “So sorry, plenty of room in my heart – but the bus is full. He left behind a row of smiling faces. It’s not what you do, it’s the way that you do it. ~The Friendship Book of Francis Gay, 1977

We have had to say no to people wanting to surrender a pet or to bringing us a stray animal they have found – we have to say no because like the bus in the story above we are “full”. We have to maintain a good quality of life for the animals already in our care and to work hard to find them homes – if we can’t keep our doors open these animals will have to go to other shelters where the outcome would be disastrous. We can’t let this happen.

We do, however, have “plenty of room in our hearts”. Our hearts are open to people who have ideas, suggestions, skills or talents that can help us keep Animal Rescue League going and to thrive.

We need people who can help us spread our mission. We need people during the week to help with the chores at our shelter, as well as people who are creative who can think of ways to help us raise funds and find homes for these wonderful animals.

We want to focus on what we can do, and we want to do it right so that in the future we can grow and we can help additional animals waiting to be rescued. We want to help our communities to be a better place for everyone. We want to do it all and we want to smile.

During this Holiday season, you can become a partner in the efforts to save homeless, abused or neglected animals. Your donations provide the food, shelter, medical care and other services for the animals… THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT YOU CAN ASSIST!

We are a Non-Profit 501(c)3 No-Kill Animal Organization and Donations are Tax-Deductible. We have no paid employees and All Donations Go Directly to the Care of the Animals.

These Animals Don’t have a voice of their own so if you would like to help in our ongoing efforts to care for animals in need, please consider a direct or indirect contribution to the Animal Rescue League through one or more of the many ways below: